Small brownfield sites across Rugby could host council houses on a 'rent now, buy later' scheme

“I think we recognise that there is clearly a crisis in social and affordable housing."
Rugby Town Hall.Rugby Town Hall.
Rugby Town Hall.

Small brownfield sites across Rugby could be used for building projects driven by community-led land trusts while extra council houses could be built on a ‘rent now, buy later’ scheme.

These ideas were put forward by Cllr Neil Sandison (Lib Dem, Eastlands) as a notice of motion at this week’s (November 26) full council meeting of Rugby Borough Council and received cross-party backing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It means the council’s executive director will now carry out further research into the projects before reporting back next year with recommendations.

Cllr Sandison told the meeting: “I think we recognise that there is clearly a crisis in social and affordable housing.

"Up to November 10 there were 1,218 households on the council waiting list. If we are heading towards a significant recession due to Covid-19 and the climate emergency then we do need to develop new forms of tenure to offset what may be a slowdown in housing development.

“We do have a number of small brownfield sites that would be suitable for community-led self-build schemes. I think this is the right way forward for this council.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He explained that some of the problem lay with the viability assessments carried out when developers presented their plans, an issue previously raised by the council’s portfolio holder for growth and investment, Cllr Jill SImpson-Vince (Con, Coton and Boughton).

She said she supported the motion and added: “We are held hostage by the site viability stats given to us by the developers and then suddenly affordable housing numbers need to reduce.

And leader Cllr Seb Lowe (Con, Coton and Boughton) added: “I agree with comments about the need for more affordable housing in the borough of Rugby and I am very heartened to hear a very initiative solution proposed.”

Cllr Mike Brader (Lab, New Bilton) sounded a word of caution when he said: “My only concern is that it seems to be building council houses explicitly to sell them off later down the line.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“One of the problems we face with our social housing stock is that there is a long waiting list but also, under the right to buy scheme, we lose them and they are difficult to replace, partly because they are sold at a discount.”

Related topics: